Agni-5 Missile Successfully Tested

By Editor04-Jun-2018

India’s indigenously developed nuclear-capable Long Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, has been successfully flight-tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island). All the Radars, Electro Optical Tracking Stations and Telemetry Stations tracked the vehicle all through the course of the trajectory. The missile which has a strike range of 5,000 km, has achieved all the mission objectives.

The surface-to-surface missile was launched with the help of a mobile launcher from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Dr Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal at 9.48 am, defence sources said. Launched from a mobile launcher, the missile has covered its full distance during the trial which was a total success. This was the sixth trial of the missile. According to DRDO, Agni-5 is the most advanced in its series with latest technologies in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead, and engine.

The trial also successfully tested many new technologies developed indigenously including Navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) had ensured the missile reached the target point within few meters of accuracy, the official explained. "The high speed on-board computer and fault tolerant software along with robust and reliable bus guided the Missile flawlessly,” said a DRDO official.

Once the missile reached the peak of its trajectory, it has turned towards the earth and continued its journey towards the intended target with an increased speed due to the attraction of earth's gravitational pull. The path has been precisely directed by the advanced on-board computer and inertial navigation system. The atmospheric friction has raised the surface temperature of the missile beyond 4,000 degrees Celsius as it re-entered the earth’s atmosphere. By burning sacrificially, the indigenously designed and developed carbon-carbon composite heat shield has protected the payload and maintained the inside temperature below 50 degrees Celsius.

The missile has hit the designated target point accurately, meeting all mission objectives. The ships located in mid-range and at the target point, tracked the vehicle and witnessed the final event.